Damian Lillard’s pitch to other stars to come to Portland

In today’s NBA world, superstars and even lower level players of all types are constantly on the move, looking to team up and deliver themselves the best chance at a title. Unlike those, Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard is looking to do the opposite, trying his best to convince players to come to him instead of leaving the confines of Portland.

Speaking to ESPN in a new piece about Lillard and the Blazers’ ongoing playoff hopes, the superstar revealed that his pitch to potential free agents is a simple one: they’re winning.

“I look at somebody that’s close in age with me that’s a really good player that could bump us up a level,” Lillard said. “When I think of that, I’m saying, OK, Anthony Davis. We’ve got a winning culture. We win, we’re not jealous of each other, we have a good time.”

Lillard said that he doesn’t go out of his way to call players, and certainly isn’t listening to any other stars pitch him on leaving the Blazers, but he will do his part in selling the team if players call him.

“A player like that, when I think of these situations, that’s what I think of. He’ll win, he’ll get to be himself and he’ll get to be on a team that fits. I think he would be perfect for us.”

While Portland isn’t known as a superstar destination, the city itself is one of the most popular in the country, and likely one that could be a huge sell to players, especially if the team is doing well. As the Thunder did with Paul George, Lillard knows he’ll have to sell the location and the team to free agents. Thankfully for him, he knows that Portland is a great place, filled with passionate fans.

“I know if a bunch of people come around, they’ll see. I’m not for show,” Lillard said. “I’m not in competition with nobody. I’m trying to be the best version of myself and get the job done. … It would take people to be a part of it to see it. That’s just the part that is unfortunate…Because you don’t get official visits in the NBA.”